All posts by Mary Jordan

Episode 10-05: Writing and Publishing Programs

logo for episode 10-05

This season we are talking about library programs – giving you some ideas about different ideas you can try in your own library. It is always good to share ideas across libraries, and we are all better! Each week we will look at a different theme of programs.

Check our our show notes page here!

This week we are talking about different programs for your patrons to do some writing and some publishing work. Of course, we are known for books and reading material; so this kind of programing fits in perfectly with our mission. Encouraging people to not just be consumers of books but to also use their ideas and creativity to create books, to write, and to share their thoughts and experiences with the world is a great program for the library.

  • Poetry Open Mics and Slams
  • Local Author Day
  • Self Publishing
  • Memoir Writing

When it Happens to You: Coping with Resource Complaints and Challenges

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Photo by Arturo Añez on Pexels.com

Prairielands Library Exchange Presents: The First Friday in February

Online Conference: Register here!

When:  Friday February 3, 2023
Who:  School, Public, Special and Academic Libraries
How:  Zoom – Attend any or all sessions
Cost:  Free

When it Happens to You:
Coping with Resource Complaints and Challenges

Session #1
9:00 am – 10:00 am
De-escalation Techniques: Managing an Intense Interaction

Across the United States, there are increased reports of book challenges from community members, which have led to very public and heated discussions. These encounters can be angry, threatening and concerning for all involved. We can prepare for similar local challenges by learning techniques that can deescalate confrontations.

Session #2
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Breathe. Stay Calm: Responding to Book Challenges in Your Library

Book challenges and censorship are in the news. Are you ready to face a book challenge in your library? Our panel speakers will describe the process they followed to prepare themselves for future challenges after facing an unprecedented increase in complaints. Challenges are often alarming and ugly, but this team has found that a plan of action helps them to breathe and stay calm.

Session #3
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Challenges and Crises: Preparing Your Board of Trustees

What training and preparation does your Board of Trustees need to be prepared for a crisis? Do your policies properly address intellectual freedom issues? How do you handle it when a board member speaks against a board decision? What happens when a board member’s values clash with a board decision? Learn how to be proactive in developing a well-prepared board, and which best practices, policies, and procedures need to be developed or revisited. This panel of experts includes a library director and a member of that library’s Board of Trustees.

Register here!

Snowshoes at the Library!

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Photo by Maël BALLAND on Pexels.com

We have talked many times about the very cool things that libraries check out, in addition to our books. And this was such a nice timely story about some fun materials you might want to consider for your library! It’s cold and snowy outside – but Minnesota people, including Minnesota library people, are outdoor people who don’t mind the cold when they are having a good time. Having the library helping to make people happy is always the best decision!

Check out this article excerpt, and read the whole thing here: Amery and Deer Park Public Libraries bring snowshoes to the shelves

“Libraries are changing dramatically, both near and nationally. A growing trend throughout the world is the “Library of Things,” a collection of items provided by the library that a patron may check out. These collections often include games, craft supplies, recreational equipment, and any other items that can be conveniently borrowed. Both the Amery Area Public Library and the Deer Park Public Library recently expanded their collections to include snowshoes. These additions are part of a growing focus on outdoor engagement, giving their communities a new way to use the library.

Amery Library director Heather Wiarda introduced the snowshoes to the library in early December. “They haven’t been sitting on the shelf since we got them, which is really exciting. Demand is pretty high… We’re thinking that we probably need to get more.” The library has two adult pairs and two kids’ pairs, all of which come with poles.

Heather seeks to make the public more aware of the library’s resources and future activities. “Our entire reason for existence is to provide people with information, ideas, and experiences. We’re more than books and DVDs.”

Check out the rest of the cool programs and materials in this article!

Celebrate Today! Betty White Day

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That’s right: every week we are going to celebrate some small holiday! We want you to join us in celebrating every week – because really, everyone needs a little more happiness in their lives.

Join us in celebrating the holiday just yourself, and take some small quiet time to enjoy it. Or, take our book and program ideas, and celebrate in a larger way in your library. Take a small, goofy opportunity to have a little more fun today! (We celebrate you in doing this!)

It’s Betty White day! What a great day to celebrate for everyone. Today is her 101st birthday, so it is a day to celebrate and enjoy yourself to remember a fun person. She spent decades entertaining us on screen, and also doing good work off screen.

Maybe enjoy a few books this week:

And there are all kinds of potential programs you can try at your library to celebrate today:

  • an obvious one: have a cheesecake tasting to celebrate her work in Golden Girls; maybe have patrons create their best recipes in the library
  • bring in an expert to talk about endangered animals, and maybe think about some strategies you could do in your community to help address some of the issues in your area
  • partner with your local animal shelter to have an adoption awareness event; or bring in animals to be therapy animals and for reading programs
  • after getting the public performance rights, show some of her documentaries in your library
  • host a friend speed date event

The main thing today: just take a few minutes to enjoy yourself and to have a happy minute. We are here for you, and your year-long celebrations!

Browsing Books: Charles Lindbergh House and Museum

logo for browsing books: historical sites of Minnesota

This season we continue to travel around Minnesota but this time we’re learning about all the fascinating historical sites our state has to offer and giving you a book prompt inspired by each site.  

We will share six book suggestions to meet that prompt, to get you started on reading new books. You can also take that prompt and find any other book to meet the challenge!

This week we encourage you to explore the Charles Lindbergh House and Museum. “Discover the childhood home of Charles A. Lindbergh, the famed environmental activist, inventor, and aviation pioneer.” To help you, we suggest that you read a book about airplanes or flying.

We give you links to each of these books on our show notes page, taking you to Amazon.com. If you click on any of them, and buy anything at all – including a nice book – Amazon will send us a small percent of the profits they made on these sales. Thank you for supporting CMLE!